Job Description

YouTube Thumbnail Designer (Performance-Focused)

HighKey Enterprises LLC is a digital PR and social media agency specializing in building elite personal and brand presences in the aesthetic industry, from top-tier plastic surgeons to high-growth med spas.

We design systems that drive attention, clicks, leads, and long-term brand equity.

To understand the visual standard we expect, review:

• Our work:

If your work does not align with YouTube-first, high-CTR thumbnail design, this role will not be a fit.

Role Overview

We are looking for a YouTube Thumbnail Designer who understands viewer psychology, click-through rate (CTR), and visual hierarchy.

Your sole focus will be creating high-performing thumbnails that stop the scroll, spark curiosity, and accurately represent the video's core idea.

This role supports multiple press and personal-brand clients, so speed, consistency, and performance awareness are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Design YouTube long-form thumbnails optimized for clicks and clarity
• Design short-form / Reel thumbnails where required
• Translate video concepts into clear, curiosity-driven visual hooks
• Collaborate closely with video editors and content strategists
• Maintain brand consistency while adapting to different creator styles
• Produce thumbnails at volume without sacrificing quality or intent
• Iterate based on feedback and performance insights

What We're Looking For

• Strong portfolio showing YouTube-native thumbnails (required)
• Clear understanding of:
  • CTR-driven design
  • Facial expressions, contrast, framing, and text hierarchy
  • Simplicity over clutter
• Proficiency in Photoshop, or equivalent tools
• Ability to work fast, meet deadlines, and manage multiple clients
• Comfortable receiving direct feedback and iterating quickly

What This Role Is Not

This role is not for:

• General graphic designers without YouTube experience
• Brand-only or aesthetic-first designers
• Canva-only designers with no performance understanding

Compensation

• Short-form thumbnails: $3 per thumbnail
• Long-form YouTube thumbnails: $10 per thumbnail

(High performers may be considered for increased volume and long-term collaboration.)

Interview Process

Step 1: Paid or unpaid thumbnail assessment (used to evaluate style, clarity, and CTR instincts) Step 2: Final interview to assess fit, communication, and workflow alignment

How to Apply

To apply, please submit:

• Your resume
• A portfolio specifically showcasing YouTube thumbnails
• (Optional but encouraged) Any CTR data or performance results

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